Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1887-08-11

appointed yesterday afternoon at The
Bingham house for second operation.
Professor Agnew and Professor Will
lam White found Mr.. Dill at that hour
properly prepared for Incorporation Civ.
ing no evidence OF either heart or kid
ney trouble or any contra. .indiction to
administration Of an anasthetic.
Squibb's ether was used, and was ad.
misistered on towel folded in the
share Of cone, in the ordinary way.
The patient took it very well, and In o.
bout ten or fifteen minutes was CON-
pletely under its influence, whereupon
the operation was begun. After the
first hemorrhoid had been tied, and
while the second was being operated
upon the patient suddenly stopped
breathing. All efforts were immedi-
ately made by both physicians to reess.
citate him. Artificial respirations was
employed, electricity was used, nagella-
tions with towel wet In cold water,
friction of the limbs, drawing forward
Of the tongue, and all the usual meth
DDS were resorted TO without avail.
The patients heart beat for about
three-quarters of an hour, hut it was
absolutely impossible to induce him to
make any natural movements of res
piration, and he finally, died in this
condition.
Professor Agnew land White were
seen to-day relative to the case, which
is regarded rare, and yet has had pre-.
cedents in the experience of most dis
tinguished physicians all over the
world. The ether used was pronounced
by both as undoubtedly the best that
could be produced. They declared
that ether was the safest Of all anesthe-
tics for operations requiring any length
OF time. The quantity taken by the
patient was exceedingly small, many
times that amount being frequently
given without the slightest indication
of unfayorable results, The method of
administration was the one employed
by these physicians for many years,
during which time they have given its
together in thousands of cases, this
being the only fatal one in all their
Joint experience. Neither of them ia
their indiYidual practice has had, it was
stated, fatal case before.
The death of Mr.. Dill did not occur
from heart disease, as the heart was
carefully examined before the ether
was administered and no evidence OF
trouble found. In addition, it was said
the fact that the heart continued to
pulsate for such length of time after
breathing ceased probably preludes the
idea that it was in any way involved.
The manner in which the ether wa
given-on towel loosely folded, with
an aperture for air at the apex of the
cone-and the small amount of ether
administered, together with the delib-
Grafton with which the anaesthesia was
produced, all show that death did not
result from an overdose of ether, or
from any mechanical interference with
breathing. 1t seems probable that
some sudden effect was produced upon
that part of the brain which presides
over the movements of the breathing.
so that what is termed the respiratory
centre was involved, and the stimulus
to the natural movements of breathing
removed. This may happen from what
is called reflex action during operations,
it may be the direct result of ether up
on that centre, or it may conceivably
occur through the rupture of a small
blood vessels in the immediate neigh
borhood of that part of the brain. In
either OF these events the occurrence Is
one which il would be impossible TO
foresee, and neither medical science Of
this day nor of all the years during
which auesthetics have been employed
has enabled the surgeon to recognize In
advance. In the first operation by
Professor AgEew there was not a
symptom to indicate that the patient
could not take ether absolutely safely,
and he was anxious to 60 through the
ike ordeal to be relieved OF his suffer-
ings.